Device for picking up and holding a plurality of substrates and an electroplating device

Abstract

In order to treat solar cells in an electroplating device, they can be inserted into a grid-like or tray-like picking-up device. They are thus mechanically held and electrical contact is made with them via contacts. Instead of individual solar cells, the picking-up devices are moved with a large number of inserted solar cells through the electroplating device for treatment. Electrical contact with the solar cells is in this case made via the contacts and the frame limbs on a projecting angle section together with edge strips of the pick-up. Contact rollers rest on the edge strips and are connected to an electrical power source.

1 . A device for receiving and holding several flat substrates in one plane, said device having
 a frame with frame pieces forming reception zones between them with recesses and cutouts in a vicinity of said frame pieces,   said frame pieces having supports for said substrates for mechanically holding said substrates or for electrical contacting said substrates on an engaging substrate side of said substrates.   
   
   
       2 . The reception device according to  claim 1 , wherein said supports are projections projecting from said frame pieces, said projections running below said plane of said frame pieces in such a way that said substrates rest thereon and are roughly in one plane with said receptacle or with said frame pieces. 
   
   
       3 . The reception device according to  claim 1 , wherein said supports have upwardly projecting contact projections. 
   
   
       4 . The reception device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of said frame pieces is electrically conductive and are made from metal, wherein said electrically conductive frame pieces are electrically conductively interconnected. 
   
   
       5 . The reception device according to  claim 4 , wherein said reception device and said frame pieces are largely electrically insulated on their surface. 
   
   
       6 . The reception device according to  claim 1 , wherein said reception device is provided with a section projecting from an outer area of said reception device, wherein said section is bent upwards from said plane of said reception device and then to a side. 
   
   
       7 . The reception device according to  claim 6 , wherein said section is projecting from an outside frame piece of said reception device. 
   
   
       8 . The reception device according to  claim 6 , wherein said projecting section is electrically conductively connected to said frame pieces or said electrical contacting means on said engaging substrates, wherein said projecting section has an electrically conductive surface. 
   
   
       9 . The reception device according to  claim 1 , wherein said reception device is integrally constructed in one piece. 
   
   
       10 . The reception device according to  claim 1 , wherein one said substrate rests inserted in sealing manner in a reception zone of said reception device between adjacent frame pieces in such a way that said substrate downwardly seals against penetration of a liquid at low pressure between said frame pieces. 
   
   
       11 . The reception device according to  claim 10 , wherein seals are provided at said frame pieces for engagement on said inserted substrate. 
   
   
       12 . The reception device according to  claim 1 , wherein there are several said reception zones in juxtaposed, successive manner. 
   
   
       13 . The reception device according to  claim 1 , wherein a covering device is provided which to be fixed to said reception device, wherein said inserted substrates are located between said reception device and said covering device and are secured against dropping out. 
   
   
       14 . The reception device according to  claim 13 , wherein said covering device roughly covers a surface area that is of similar size than that of said reception device. 
   
   
       15 . A galvanizing device with
 a treatment chamber and a passage path for substrates through said treatment chamber,   wherein said galvanizing device uses a treatment medium such as an electrolyte for galvanic application of a coating to said substrates,   wherein said passage path has conveying means such as conveying rollers for horizontal conveying of a reception device for receiving and holding several flat substrates in one plane, said device having a frame with frame pieces forming reception zones between them with recesses and cutouts in a vicinity of said frame pieces, said frame pieces having supports for said substrates for mechanically holding said substrates or for electrical contacting said substrates on an engaging substrate side of said substrates through said passage path.   
   
   
       16 . The galvanizing device according to  claim 15 , wherein pressure rollers are provided engaging from above on said reception devices or said substrates, wherein there is at least one said pressure roller for each successive row of said substrates in a direction of said passage path, wherein said pressure rollers are constructed in flexible manner. 
   
   
       17 . The galvanizing device according to  claim 15 , wherein said reception device is provided with a section projecting from an outer area of said reception device, wherein said section is bent upwards from said plane of said reception device and then to a side, and projects upwards with a lateral angular section away from a plane of said substrates and extends to an electrical contacting means with a further intermediate horizontal bend. 
   
   
       18 . The galvanizing device according to  claim 17 , wherein said electrical contacting means has contact rollers engaging on said projecting section. 
   
   
       19 . The galvanizing device according to  claim 15 , wherein a height level of said treatment medium extends just up to an underside of said substrates located in said reception device. 
   
   
       20 . The galvanizing device according to  claim 15 , wherein there are several contacting means on top of said reception device between said pressure rollers. 
   
   
       21 . The galvanizing device according to  claim 20 , wherein said contacting means are constructed as circumferential contacting rollers having an electrical contact with said substrates. 
   
   
       22 . The galvanizing device according to  claim 20 , wherein said contacting means engage on frame pieces running in a conveying direction of said galvanizing device, wherein at least one contacting means engages on each said frame piece running in said conveying direction. 
   
   
       23 . The galvanizing device according to  claim 22 , wherein said frame pieces are higher than a level of said substrates in said reception device. 
   
   
       24 . The galvanizing device according to  claim 22 , wherein electric contact bridges run from said frame pieces, on which said contacting means engage, up to said substrates located in said reception device in bilateral and bow-like manner away from said frame pieces to said substrates, wherein said substrates rest on ends of said contact bridges. 
   
   
       25 . The galvanizing device according to  claim 22 , wherein a contacting roller is provided between each pair of pressure rollers on the same shaft. 
   
   
       26 . The galvanizing device according to  claim 22 , wherein said contacting means are constructed in resilient manner with contacting surfaces projecting resiliently from a solid central part of said contacting means.